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What Causes Persistent Diarrhea, Abdominal Discomfort And Flatulence?

Posted on Fri, 23 Jun 2017

Question: My mum has had a bowel screening and blood has been found so has a colonoscopy tomorrow I am worried sick that it's cancer. Mum has no symptoms other than occasionally she gets blood on toilet paper. She has no itching or discomfort or anything. She gets occasional diarrhoea and flatulence. Do you think it's cancer?

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Cancer less common . Think common. Hope for the best

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for asking
I read your question and i understand your concern. Blood in stools is due to many reasons. Common causes like hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel diseases, polyps, fissures , fistula etc are prevalant. Cancer is last resort and less common so hope for the best and keep your fingers crossed and wait for the colonoscopy reports.
I hope it helps. Take good care of yourself and of your mum and dont forget to close the discussion please.
Regards XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (12 hours later)

My mum has confirmed bowel cancer. We don't know what stage yet they just said the bowel looks healthy the tumour is about the size of a 50p piece at the moment I am worried sick about the prognosis.

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Needs immediate staging and management accordingly

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

I am sorry for the diagnosis, with bowel cancer confirmed from biopsy , next step is staging the spread, CT scans abdomen and pelvis will be planned. Size is low, and stage will depend on the extent of spread. With this size, i am sure its localised and not even spread yet. Resection of this tumor ASAP will give a good prognosis. Consult your oncologist and let them decide what is best for her. Hope for the best and pray tumor is not spread, as localised tumor means good prognosis.

I hope it helps.
Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (7 minutes later)

Thank you I am just worried as mum had ovarian cancer 8 years ago and had full hysterectomy and oophrectomy with chemotherapy. Will mum be able to have more chemo if needed. Mum's scan should be within 2 weeks I am worried about it growing.Apparently the bowel looks healthy other than the bottom part that has the 50p Tumour which is near the rectum this is how I have understood it anyway xx

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hope for the best

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

I can understand your concerns and frustrations, such diseases are really breathtaking and there is not much one can do by taking stress. Instead just be hopeful, odds seem good. And yes she can take repeated chemos with history of 8 years old ovarian CA. Just hang in there, hope for the best and wait for the scans to confirm the staging and then proceedings will be accordingly. I am sure it will be localised and easily resectable. Fingers crossed :) .

Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (19 hours later)

I am worried as mum has had ovarian cancer and now this cancer she will keep getting it. Is this a recurrence or a new cancer etc? what is it called the cancer mum has now a tumour near rectum at bottom of bowel. I am worrying myself sick. I have been in bed for hours with severe migraine

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (13 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Needs correlation to confirm etiology

Detailed Answer:
I can understand your worries
Ovarian cancer in history and and now this bowel tumor. This could be a connection or a separate entity. histopathology studies and scans will tell. Stressing out can cause migraines and are advised to be managed with some abortive therapy and rest for migraine. Keep faith in her doctors. they will find the best way for her.
Hope for the better odds.
Regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (2 hours later)

Nurse has rang my mum and now said they're suspicious of cancer now yesterday said it definitely was are there still chances of this being benign mum has occasional bleeding from bottom, gets tired, looks pale and diarrhoea with wind but only occasionally maybe up to 2 to 3 times per week.They are saying it's the anus that's got the tumor. I am very confused by this they said all bowel looks healthy and surrounding area

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hope for the best

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

This mass near anus must have histopathological study done which will suggest whether its cancer or not. Scans will suggest the spread. As i mentioned earlier i am hopeful its localised. So hope for the best and wait for the scan results. They will find the best course of action for your mother illness.

I hope it helps.
regards
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 minute later)

Last question what type of cancer is this called

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (14 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Histopathology report will tell the type

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me

That will depend on the histopathology report what type in specific this cancer is. Till then we are gonna just label it as a suspicious mass that needs to be evaluated and studied further.

I hope it helps.
Khan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (1 hour later)

I have rang mum's nurse up and mum has cancer in her bottom it's the size of 50p bowel looks healthy and surrounding area. They say this is suspicious for cancer. Can this be cured if it is cancer?

Answered by Dr. Shafi Ullah Khan (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Local not spreaded has good chances

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back to me
As i mentioned earlier, if cancer is localised recovery chances are good and survival odds are better. let your oncologist correlate it clinifally and decide what is best in provided circumstances.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad